Blog – ALKAR Human Resourceshttp://www.1alkar.com
Thu, 08 Feb 2018 22:09:33 +0000en-UShourly15 Steps To Reverse Workplace Negativityhttp://www.1alkar.com/2018/02/08/5-steps-reverse-workplace-negativity/
http://www.1alkar.com/2018/02/08/5-steps-reverse-workplace-negativity/#respondThu, 08 Feb 2018 22:08:06 +0000http://www.1alkar.com/?p=932The typical workplace has its ups and downs in terms of employee negativity, but when your company’s been in a down cycle for too long, it’s time to take control and turn it around. When negativity goes unchecked, morale nosedives, productivity suffers, communication comes to a halt and people stop working well together. Business, of... Read more »

]]>The typical workplace has its ups and downs in terms of employee negativity, but when your company’s been in a down cycle for too long, it’s time to take control and turn it around. When negativity goes unchecked, morale nosedives, productivity suffers, communication comes to a halt and people stop working well together. Business, of course, will suffer. Understanding why this happens to employees can help you prevent it from happening in your business.

A study conducted by Towers Perrin and researchers Gang & Gang determined that the reasons for most employee negativity included:

• An excessive workload

• Concerns about management’s ability to lead the company forward successfully

• Anxiety about the future, income and retirement security

• Lack of challenge in their work, with boredom intensifying existing frustration about workload

• Insufficient recognition for the level of contribution and effort provided, and concerns that pay isn’t commensurate with performance.

The study also found that some employees with a negative outlook were seeking new jobs, but the majority were planning to stick it out, despite their unhappiness!

How Can You Reverse Employee Negativity?

1. Talk to your employees. Find out who is unhappy and why. Then try to address these concerns–and include employees in the decision making process, especially when you’re making decisions that affect their everyday working life.

2. Try to redistribute workloads when possible. Many employees may feel overworked and this is one way to show you’re paying attention to their needs.

3. Offer consistent, transparent communication – share information about the company, its successes and its future plans. Make sure your employees know exactly what is expected of them if they want to make the next step up the ladder. You can evaluate your promotion system annually to make sure it’s always fair and equitable.

4. Create a professional development plan with all employees. This can be a time to check-in and be sure they are on the right track. Review annually or even bi-annually to keep everything running smoothly.

5. Hard work deserves recognition. When you thank your employees for their hard work, they gain a sense of professional self-worth and feel more confident.

Reversing workplace negativity is never easy, but you’ll know you’ve succeeded when your employees return to being productive and positive.

]]>http://www.1alkar.com/2018/02/08/5-steps-reverse-workplace-negativity/feed/05 Principles of Leadership: Working Toward Long-Term Successhttp://www.1alkar.com/2018/01/25/five-principles-leadership-working-toward-long-term-success/
http://www.1alkar.com/2018/01/25/five-principles-leadership-working-toward-long-term-success/#respondThu, 25 Jan 2018 05:30:55 +0000http://www.1alkar.com/?p=921 Without strong leadership in our communities and organizations we cannot move forward in a positive direction, as a whole. Leaders must always strive to better understand the individuals on their team and how to leverage their strengths so everyone works together effectively to achieve company goals. Here are the five principles to work toward... Read more »

Without strong leadership in our communities and organizations we cannot move forward in a positive direction, as a whole. Leaders must always strive to better understand the individuals on their team and how to leverage their strengths so everyone works together effectively to achieve company goals. Here are the five principles to work toward long-term success in leadership:

1. Humanity. We must always remember we are leading people — full of potential, passion and each possessing their own personality.

2. Meaning. Humans are constantly seeking meaning and purpose. It keeps us more enthused, persistent, disciplined and there’s a far more likely chance to succeed when we feel we’re working for a purpose. Great leaders find meaning for themselves and help others find meaning in their work.

3. Influence. Leaders who last recognize that they are in the persuading, inspiring and influencing business. Too often, leaders think about taking control or taking charge. Those thoughts might work in a moment of crisis but overall, this won’t prove effective. The fact is that you cannot control another human being. They make their own choices, and at some point forcing, pushing and controlling won’t get you the outcomes you want.

4. Learning. The path of learning and discovery is achieved by great leaders. No matter the amount of training before handling a team, ultimately, to lead you must observe, reflect, ask, try, mess up and move on. Constantly be thinking about how you can lead more effectively to move your team toward success.

5. Love. This is a strong word but we must love our team, our customers, our work, our purpose and ourselves. You might do okay if you simply “like” one or more of these things or groups, but when you are willing to bring all your passion, and yes, love, to your work you become a true leader.

]]>http://www.1alkar.com/2018/01/25/five-principles-leadership-working-toward-long-term-success/feed/03 Tips To Manage Diversity in the Workplacehttp://www.1alkar.com/2018/01/12/3-tips-manage-diversity-workplace/
http://www.1alkar.com/2018/01/12/3-tips-manage-diversity-workplace/#respondFri, 12 Jan 2018 23:45:51 +0000http://www.1alkar.com/?p=915Organizations hire people of all genders, ages, cultures, styles, and religions with the expectation of them all working together quickly and easily, which isn’t always the case. Set your employees up for success by following these quick tips: 1. State Your Policy. Clearly define your company’s “common culture” with behavioral expectations; these documents will guide... Read more »

]]>Organizations hire people of all genders, ages, cultures, styles, and religions with the expectation of them all working together quickly and easily, which isn’t always the case. Set your employees up for success by following these quick tips:

1. State Your Policy. Clearly define your company’s “common culture” with behavioral expectations; these documents will guide your employees’ behaviors. Updating this policy annually and meeting with all employees to review it keeps everyone on the the same page.

2. Education Is Key! Some members of your workplace will need help understanding how to make the new, underrepresented, employees feel welcome. Encourage everyone to keep an open line of communication and ask questions with respect to all colleagues.

3. Manage With Care. To enable each person to be successful at their job, get to know your employees better. Some people need more instruction and others need to be left alone to create. Reward the quality and the quantity of everyone’s work. If you see someone saying or doing something inappropriate, handle it immediately to avoid further conflict. Diversity training goes a long way – if you are not versed in it, online courses are one option for everyone; or you can hire a specialist to come in and train you and your team.

]]>http://www.1alkar.com/2018/01/12/3-tips-manage-diversity-workplace/feed/05 Tips To Ease Your Hiring Processhttp://www.1alkar.com/2018/01/02/5-tips-to-ease-your-hiring-process/
http://www.1alkar.com/2018/01/02/5-tips-to-ease-your-hiring-process/#respondTue, 02 Jan 2018 00:23:02 +0000http://www.1alkar.com/?p=906The most important aspect of any business is selecting and retaining top people. Think about the last person you hired. After you selected them, did they work out as intended? Or were they somebody unlike what you thought? Research shows success to hiring top people depends on asking the right questions; behavior-based questions. Save time... Read more »

]]>The most important aspect of any business is selecting and retaining top people. Think about the last person you hired. After you selected them, did they work out as intended? Or were they somebody unlike what you thought?

Research shows success to hiring top people depends on asking the right questions; behavior-based questions. Save time and effort by using these five questions to help evaluate your next applicant’s past behavior, judgment, and initiative.

1. Give me an example when you . . .

2. Describe a crisis your organization faced and how you managed it.

3. Tell me about the time you reached out for additional responsibility.

4. Tell me about the largest project you’ve worked on.

5. Tell me about the last time you broke the rules.

About Us:Alkar Human Resources has been providing the highest-quality candidates to Napa, Solano and Sonoma area businesses. We take the time to deliver personal service with customized staffing solutions so you can focus on what you do best…running your business.For more information, click here.

]]>http://www.1alkar.com/2018/01/02/5-tips-to-ease-your-hiring-process/feed/0Why Do Employees Show Up Sick – And How Can Employers Prevent It?http://www.1alkar.com/2017/12/05/employees-show-sick-can-employers-prevent/
http://www.1alkar.com/2017/12/05/employees-show-sick-can-employers-prevent/#respondTue, 05 Dec 2017 21:15:51 +0000http://www.1alkar.com/?p=902“Presenteeism” occurs when your staff are physically in the workplace, but not productively engaged. Sickness is one of the top causes of presenteeism. Although staff have shown up, they’re simply too ill to get anything done. Some dedicated traditionalists see nothing wrong with presenteeism. After all, staff are on-site and they’re sending the message that... Read more »

]]>“Presenteeism” occurs when your staff are physically in the workplace, but not productively engaged. Sickness is one of the top causes of presenteeism. Although staff have shown up, they’re simply too ill to get anything done. Some dedicated traditionalists see nothing wrong with presenteeism. After all, staff are on-site and they’re sending the message that work is a high priority.

Unfortunately, presenteeism may be costing you. Here’s how:

• Productivity losses are staggering. A Work Foundation report found that lost productivity from presenteeism costs 1.5 times as much as lost productivity from absenteeism. In other words, it’s cheaper for your employees to stay home than to come to work sick. That’s because …

Identify when employees should not be at work, “I know I should have stayed home,” they say, “but there’s just too much to do,” followed by a slight cough or sniffles.

When workload is high, employees avoid taking time off work because they might miss deadlines or overburden their already overworked colleagues. Dropping the ball, even for a day or two, simply may not be an option. In this situation, managers can do much to revisit and redistribute workloads.

When employees are sick, it’s time to rely on someone else – like your staffing partner. Staffing firms like Alkar Human Resources are equipped to address sudden, temporary absences in a number of ways, including:

• Last-minute needs & Gap coverage. If staff will be out sick for an extended period, or are in a transition phase, your staffing partner can recommend qualified temporary workers who can “fill the gap” until the situation settles.

]]>http://www.1alkar.com/2017/12/05/employees-show-sick-can-employers-prevent/feed/0No Degree? No Problem.http://www.1alkar.com/2017/09/28/no-degree-no-problem/
http://www.1alkar.com/2017/09/28/no-degree-no-problem/#respondThu, 28 Sep 2017 23:57:44 +0000http://www.1alkar.com/?p=891Degrees are often listed as job requirements. However, if you’ve got the necessary skills and experience, but not the necessary piece of paper, don’t fret. You can position yourself well through these five strategies: 1. Research good-paying jobs in your field. Read lots of job descriptions. Pay attention to the types of skills and certifications... Read more »

Degrees are often listed as job requirements. However, if you’ve got the necessary skills and experience, but not the necessary piece of paper, don’t fret. You can position yourself well through these five strategies:

1. Research good-paying jobs in your field. Read lots of job descriptions. Pay attention to the types of skills and certifications those jobs require.

2. Take classes. Enroll in classes at a local vocational school or community college that align with the skills and certs you found in your research.

3. Rework your resume. Reorder your past jobs from most relevant positions to least relevant. Hiring managers want to know that you can handle the requirements of their jobs, so make it as easy as possible to see that you have the skills they need. You can save different versions of your resume for different industries, as some past jobs may be more relevant to one employer, vs another.

4. Get past electronic scanners. Be sure that your relevant skills are listed in your cover letter and page one of your resume. This will help you pass automated screening software.

5. Join a talent network. Alkar is a great resource. They can connect you with positions that match your skill set to help you gain experience while you get certified. One of our professional recruiter’s can help you overcome potential objections from hiring managers.

It may feel like the odds are against you if you don’t have a degree, but if you work hard and demonstrate that you have the skills and experience to do the job, hiring managers will pay attention.

]]>http://www.1alkar.com/2017/09/28/no-degree-no-problem/feed/06 Steps To Nail Your Next Interview!http://www.1alkar.com/2017/09/01/6-steps-to-nail-your-next-interview/
http://www.1alkar.com/2017/09/01/6-steps-to-nail-your-next-interview/#respondFri, 01 Sep 2017 22:19:15 +0000http://www.1alkar.com/?p=884Employers rely on nonverbal cues as much as verbal ones to gauge your intelligence, confidence and power. Shape-up your body language with these six simple steps to nail your next interview. 1. Prepare Yourself As you prepare for your interview, get yourself in the right mindset. Think about what questions you may be asked and... Read more »

]]>Employers rely on nonverbal cues as much as verbal ones to gauge your intelligence, confidence and power. Shape-up your body language with these six simple steps to nail your next interview.

1. Prepare Yourself
As you prepare for your interview, get yourself in the right mindset. Think about what questions you may be asked and decided on your answers, read over your resume for any last minute edits, and tell yourself how much you deserve this position. Prepare a neat, plain folder with two printed resumes and/or portfolio, you can even bring a blank piece of paper to take notes. Being prepared to display your best manners and professionalism will allow you to demonstrate just how great a candidate you are.

Your confidence exudes through your appearance and attitude. Dress professionally with solid colors in slacks, a dress or knee-length skirt; avoid patterns and loud colors. Use a lint roller before leaving your house, keep one in your car if necessary.

2. First Impressions matter and they start well before the interview.
Before you walk into the building for your appointment, arrange your possessions, double-check your appearance and put on a smile. People who see you when you first arrive (i.e., receptionists or other employees) may be asked for their opinion of you later. If you spend your first few minutes frantically looking through your briefcase or texting on your phone before greeting them, their opinions may leave something to be desired.

Your handshake says a lot about you before you ever speak a word, so make sure it’s as confident as you are. When you do meet your interviewer grip their hand firmly and shake it up and down once. Be sure your nails are trimmed and clean and your palms are not sweaty. Never give a limp handshake, but be sure to not squeeze too hard.

When sitting down, keep your bag and any other items at your feet and place your folder with portfolio on the desk. Piling your personal items on an interviewer’s desk or in your lap, is poor interview etiquette.

3. Eyes Ahead
Eye contact is important. Avoid staring at the ground or ceiling while they’re talking, since these signals could be taken as disrespectful or disinterested. Don’t glare at the interviewer, or stare at them so intently that they gets uncomfortable. Relax your gaze and look him/her in the eyes as much as naturally possible.

4. Play it Cool
Everyone gets nervous at an interview! When you feel nerves creeping in, control your breathing and listen to your interviewer. The more you pay attention to the moment, the less you will worry about the next question they might ask. The trick is to stay in control of your nerves. Panicked breathing, chewing your nails, or twirling your hair may comfort you during a stressful situation — but these behaviors cannot come out at a job interview. If you’re ever unsure of the atmosphere of the interview, try “mirroring.” This tactic involves making small, subtle reflections of the interviewer’s body language. Copying movements such as the direction they lean in, or smiling while they’re smiling, lets the interviewer know you are attentive and engaged — factors which will work in your favor. But use common sense. If the interviewer is slouching, making wild gestures, or just plain unprofessional, then it’s best to stay away from mirroring and stick to your interview best practices.

5. Posture Pro
Try to sit as upright as possible, or lean in slightly with a straight back. This shows interest without seeming stiff. If you must gesture with your hands, keep them in the area between your belly button and your collar bone. Anything higher or lower seems frenzied and can be a distraction to the interviewer.

Also, be sure not to drape your arms and legs across furniture. Or shrink up to the middle of the chair. Sitting with legs or ankles crossed, back straight, and arms folded in your lap will help you appear confident and well-mannered.

6. Closing Time
Thank your interviewer for his time and be genuine. Ask if there is anything you can read or do to prepare for the position and ask for the job. Shake their hand again, and then leave cool and collected (don’t rush off!). If possible, shake hands with and thank anyone else who was a part of your interview process. This is the last impression you will leave on interviewers, and being genuinely grateful will make you memorable.

Whatever you say to an interviewer, your body will be saying something louder. So be sure that your body talk is confident, expressive, and professional from the moment you arrive.

]]>http://www.1alkar.com/2017/09/01/6-steps-to-nail-your-next-interview/feed/0Too Much to Do, Not Enough Timehttp://www.1alkar.com/2017/07/12/much-not-enough-time/
http://www.1alkar.com/2017/07/12/much-not-enough-time/#respondWed, 12 Jul 2017 21:46:54 +0000http://www.1alkar.com/?p=877One of the biggest frustrations many of us feel is having too much to do, and not feeling like we have enough time to do it. We are overwhelmed. Of course, having “not enough time” is just a feeling — we all have the same amount of time, but we often fill up the container... Read more »

]]>One of the biggest frustrations many of us feel is having too much to do, and not feeling like we have enough time to do it. We are overwhelmed.

Of course, having “not enough time” is just a feeling — we all have the same amount of time, but we often fill up the container of our days with too much stuff.

The problem is having too much stuff to fit into a small container (24 hours). If we look at task management and time management as simply a container organization problem, it becomes simpler.

How do we fit all of the stuff we have to do into our small container?

By simplifying.

And letting go.

I promise, with this two-step process, you’ll be able to deal with the problem of “too much to do, not enough time.”

Simplifying Our Tasks

When we realize we’re trying to fit too much stuff (tasks, errands, obligations) into a small container (24 hours), it becomes obvious that we can’t get a bigger container … so we have to get rid of some stuff. It just won’t all fit.

We do that by simplifying what we have to do.

Mindfulness is a helpful too here: pay attention to all the things you do today and tomorrow, and try to notice all the things you’re fitting into the container of your day. What websites are you going to in the morning? In the evening? What games are you playing on your phone? What are you reading? What busywork are you doing? How much time are you spending in email, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram? How much time on blogs, online shopping sites, Youtube? How much TV are you watching? How much time do you spend cleaning, maintaining your personal hygiene, taking care of other people? How much time driving around or commuting? What are you spending the valuable commodity of your attention on?

What you might realize is that you’re fitting a lot of junk into the container. Toss some of that out. Ban yourself from certain sites or apps until you’ve done a few really important tasks.

Notice also that you’re committed to a lot of things. Those commitments are filling up your life. Start getting out of some of them, and saying “no” to new ones.

Now look at your task list: how many of those things can you reasonably do today? I say three.

If you could only do three things today, which would be the most important? If you’ve ever played baseball, and swung a bat, you know that what matters is not so much how hard you swing, but hitting the ball with the sweet spot of the bat. What you need to do with your task list is hit it with the sweet spot of the bat — find the tasks that have the most impact, that matter most to your life. Choose carefully, because you only have so much room in your life.

Now ask yourself this: which task would you do if you could only do one task today? That should be what you put your focus on next. Just that one task. You can’t do your entire list today, and you can’t do your top three tasks right now. So just focus on one important task.

Clear everything else away, and focus on that.

By picking your tasks carefully, you’re taking care with the container of your time. You can pick important tasks or joyful ones, but you’re being conscious about the choices. You’re treating it like the precious gift that it is: limited, valuable, to be filled with the best things, and not overstuffed.

The Art of Letting Go

What about all the other stuff you want to do (or feel you need to do)? What if it doesn’t fit into the container?

This is where the joyful art of letting go becomes useful.

You have too many things to fit into your container, and you’ve decided to only put the important and beautiful things into the container. That means a bunch of things you think you “should” do are not going to fit.

You can get to those later. Or you can not do them. Either way, they won’t fit into today’s container.

This in itself is not a problem, but it only becomes a problem when you are frustrated that you can’t fit it all in. Your frustration comes from an ideal that you should be able to do it all, that you should be able to do everything on your list. Plus more: you want to travel, workout, meditate, learn a new skill, read more, be the perfect spouse (or find a spouse), be the perfect parent/friend/sibling, draw or create music, and so on.

Your ideals don’t match with reality — the reality is that you can’t do this all today, or even this week. You can choose to do some of them, but the others will have to wait, or not get done at all.

Since you can’t get a bigger container, you need to adjust your ideals. The ideal you choose to have can be this: that this moment be exactly as it is. The old ideal is one that you can toss into the ocean, as it was harming you (causing frustration). Let it go with joy and relief.

The new ideal is that this moment is perfect, and it deserves to be in your container.

]]>http://www.1alkar.com/2017/07/12/much-not-enough-time/feed/0How Introverts Can Impress in Interviewshttp://www.1alkar.com/2017/02/09/introverts-can-impress-interviews/
http://www.1alkar.com/2017/02/09/introverts-can-impress-interviews/#respondThu, 09 Feb 2017 17:28:21 +0000http://www.1alkar.com/?p=868Most people don’t associate introverts with the idea of attention-grabbing impact and unforgettable first impressions. There’s a good reason for that: Whilst introverts are quite capable of being socially ‘noisy’ when comfortable, they tend to react to new situations by carefully processing stimuli mentally, before delivering a response. It is not that introverts are shy... Read more »

Most people don’t associate introverts with the idea of attention-grabbing impact and unforgettable first impressions. There’s a good reason for that: Whilst introverts are quite capable of being socially ‘noisy’ when comfortable, they tend to react to new situations by carefully processing stimuli mentally, before delivering a response.

It is not that introverts are shy (that’s a different thing) but that they are thoughtful. Put this into a job interview situation and it can at first appear troubling. However adept you may be at the tasks for which you’re being assessed, you can’t get past the fact that interviewers will (unconsciously) base much of their decision on the impact you make in the first few moments after meeting them.

But it is not as though being an introvert makes you incapable of making an impression. Rather, it means you need to tailor your approach to make the best use of the unique skills and traits that make you the kind of person you are. It also means taking some more general steps to ensure you are as prepared as possible for the particular trials of the job interview process.

Here’s how:

Make sure to take plenty of time before the interview to get yourself into the right physical and mental state to excel. Take the morning off work if you can, to do some extra last minute research and preparation. But also concentrate on staying calm and upbeat. Try doing some yoga or going for some tea and cake before the interview. And make sure that you know exactly where you’re going, and how to get there, so that you are not flustered when you arrive.

Think also beyond the job, to the human connection that you need to make. While extroverts connect with groups of people, introverts tend to engage with others one-to-one. That means that when you arrive, greeting a panel of 3 or 4 people may throw you immediately out of your comfort zone. So instead, don’t think of them as a panel.

Take time to make eye contact with each person individually as you say hello. It’s also good to prepare some small talk in advance so that you are not immediately plunged into an awkward silence. You can mention something about your journey, or an element of your surroundings that impresses you. Remember, while you might not always have an answer on hand – most introverts take a little while longer to form a response they’re happy with – asking a question is a great way to break a silence and show that you are interested and engaged with those around you.

Importantly, you want to communicate the fact that you are a thoughtful, considered, engaged individual and that you have a host of proud achievements and skills that you can bring to the job. Once you get past the greeting stage, you may be asked to talk about your accomplishments. This is another chance to wow the panel, but naturally you may be inexperienced at ‘showing off’.

The idea of bragging makes you feel uncomfortable. Instead, try framing your achievements in terms of what you learned from the experience of completing them. Put your successes in the context of what you could achieve for this new company. And talk about how you’d like to build on these accomplishments in the future.

]]>http://www.1alkar.com/2017/02/09/introverts-can-impress-interviews/feed/0The Blind Spot Preventing You From Finding a Career You Lovehttp://www.1alkar.com/2016/11/17/blind-spot-preventing-finding-career-love/
http://www.1alkar.com/2016/11/17/blind-spot-preventing-finding-career-love/#respondThu, 17 Nov 2016 17:44:51 +0000http://www.1alkar.com/?p=860If you’re like most people, you began attempting to figure out your ideal career direction by first reflecting on who you are and what you want in life. You considered past experiences, took self-assessments, and tried to imagine what new career would be right for you. This is a natural starting place, since any career... Read more »

]]>If you’re like most people, you began attempting to figure out your ideal career direction by first reflecting on who you are and what you want in life. You considered past experiences, took self-assessments, and tried to imagine what new career would be right for you. This is a natural starting place, since any career path needs to relate to the person who is going to be walking it.

Yes, your career should revolve around you, but basing your career choice solely on your personal knowledge and thought processes limits your access to new perspectives and ideas that could just give you the breakthrough “Aha!” that you’ve been wanting. The access point to expanding your horizons is to include other people in your process.

Add these five interpersonal strategies to your wheelhouse, and you’ll move towards a great career fit with more speed and precision than you would on your own.

Interview for information

All the online research in the world can’t tell you what it’s really like to work in an industry. Informational interviews give you a chance to learn from people in the field, as they describe their day to day experiences and give you advice on industry pros and cons and what it takes to succeed. Stories from your interviewee’s work life or those of their colleagues can give you insights into whether an industry is or isn’t for you.

Find hidden gems

One-to-one interviews aren’t the only way that other people can help your career search. A second way people can help is by sharing information on industry resources. While it may seem like Google holds all the answers, there can be resources you don’t even know to search for. Industry-specific job boards, smaller local groups that relate to particular topics, and hidden Facebook groups are all resources that you’ll only discover if you connect with people in the industry and ask them for information.

Build your network

One real downfall of relying on internet research is that you’re only going to see the same information that everyone else sees. To go farther, you need to actually go out and talk to people. Not only can they give you information about resources and industry life, they can introduce you to others who can help you and connect the dots for you. Remember, opportunities always flow through people. The more people you talk to, the more opportunities you’ll find.

Get through the rough spots

Figuring out your career direction can be a challenge, and you can get stuck in parts of the process you didn’t expect and don’t know how to work through. At that point, it’s helpful to reach out to a career coach or a career counselor who specializes in helping people figure out their career direction. Working with this kind of person means that somebody else will be by your side, guiding you through the process, looking over your shoulder, and helping you move forward.

Boost your confidence

Other people can be fabulous resources for information, opportunities and connections, but a less-obvious way they can help your career search is by boosting your confidence. People you connect with will often be encouraging and supportive, giving you momentum into that new career direction you’re thinking about.

As you reach out and connect with people, it’s important to remember that not everyone will be helpful. Be wary of people who have an obvious agenda for your career, or who are perpetually down about everything, including your opportunities. Be careful, but don’t let a few bad apples keep you from enjoying the richness that is available when you get out of your house, away from your computer, and connected with other humans.

The resources are there waiting for you, but you need to be the one to step out and ask for the help you need. When you do that, you will move past the blind spot of isolation and get on your way to figuring out what you want to do with your career.